Yvette Jain is a mom of two, recognized yoga teacher, and blogger. She is an advocate for kids yoga and has taught yoga and self-calming techniques for children in private and public schools in NYC.

How did you start practicing yoga?

I started practicing yoga as an alternative form of fitness after I had injured my right knee from running. I had been a runner for 10 years at that point. The physical practice of yoga is what drew me in, but the transformative effects off the mat is the reason I stayed committed to it for over 15 years.

What inspired you to get into mindfulness with children?

As a mom of two young boys, 3 & 5 years old, I see how important it is to teach mindfulness to children. I make it a priority to find at least one moment each day to teach mindfulness to my little guys.

Children of this generation are stimulated with so many activities and technology; big city kids are always doing something, mine included! And sometimes, life can be overwhelming for them. That’s why I think it’s important to balance this active energy with calming activities and to share the tools of mindfulness and breathing to help them keep calm and manage their emotions.

Mindfulness can be taught in the simplest of moments, and it 1- allows you & your kids some quality time together 2- lets kids exercise all their senses and 3- gives them vocabulary to describe their experiences and feelings.

Where do you see the future of children's mindfulness, and how do you intend on being part of it?

I see schools integrating mindfulness into the classrooms and families integrating it into their homes.

I have taught a couple of kids yoga classes for my children’s preschool as a guest. I also support programs such as Wellness in the Schools, Child Mind Institute, and Bent on Learning.

Little by little, with consistent effort, we can create a brighter future for kids - an education of both knowledge and character.

Ultimately, mindfulness starts at home. Children learn by example and they are always watching their parents. It’s important to educate parents to be more mindful themselves so they can pass that positive energy to their families.

I host yoga classes for my community of moms and write blogs to empower parents with tools to keep calm through the ups and downs of parenting. It’s called “Keep Calm Warrior Mom”. (“Mom” is inclusive of gender and roles - so dads, step moms, bonus moms, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc are very welcome!)

My intention is to offer tools from the practice of yoga, meditation, as well as parenting tips & strategies from interviews with experts. My intention is to connect and empower families to make a positive impact in their lives off the yoga mat.

Yvette & her boys are pictured in the Candice Stripe, shop the styles here!

In celebration of International Women's Day, we caught up with Cristina Dodd aka “Instructor Miragem,” to discuss her time playing capoeira in NYC for over 20 years, and how a woman's story is not often heard and is almost taboo in the sport. Cristina teaches, trains and performs with the group Capoeira Luanda.

Tell us what started your passion with capoeira.

The first time I saw capoeira I was fascinated. It piqued every one of my interests and I knew I could spend a lifetime learning it and would never get bored. It’s Martial Arts, Dance, Music, Language and Culture. I had never seen such strong men be so graceful and such graceful women be so strong anywhere else like in capoeira. And you add the Brazilian Portuguese language and music to that, it really is uniquely beautiful and there’s no other art quite like it.

What are some of the challenges you've faced in this primarily male dominated sport?First of all, women were not even allowed to play capoeira in the roda (circle) until around the 1970s. So we are walking into a male sport (imagine a woman walking onto a football field). Women must gain the strength, physicality and mentality to play among the men.There is no “women’s division” so we are expected to master difficult movements the same as men and must work very hard to build the kind of strength that doesn’t necessarily come naturally to our bodies. Today at any given event you will still see few women among the higher ranks. I’ve been chipping away at that mountain for 20 years now and having had 2 children in the process. So talk about trying to get your body to perform miracles. We have no examples to refer to. But hopefully we are inspiring those behind us.

What about capoeira has empowered you and the youth that you teach in the community?

The discipline of training any martial art is certainly character building, and when you feel strong it gives you confidence. I love seeing the kids I teach recognizing their own strength for the first time. They try to do something they thought was impossible and find they can actually do it. Now these kids are evolving into young adults who choose fitness as a lifestyle. A lot of my students now, including my own 12 year old son, are so disciplined that they raise the bar for me to continue pushing my own self harder and and we end up giving to each other.

Hi! I’m Candice and I am honored to become an official part of the K-DEER Family. I have been friends with Kristine since we did Jimmy Barkan’s Teacher Training together in 2010 and still have some K-DEER original, hand sewn bum bums from those days! Now, I am lucky enough to manage and teach at Jimmy’s Hot Yoga studio in Boca Raton, FL. Recently, I also began leading luxury yoga retreats, combining my passions of yoga and travel.

Tell us about your connection with Kindness Matters 365 & why you selected their organization for the Candice Stripe.

Laura Reiss, the founder of Kindness Matters, is a dear friend of mine. When we opened the yoga studio in Boca Raton, Laura was one of our very first students and her Kindness Vision was still in its infancy. It’s so exciting watching the rapid growth of her organization, and at times even getting to be a part of it. It’s too easy to get wrapped up in the negative and craze of much of the world we live in today - Laura’s work consistently reminds us of the good in each other.

Beyond that, teaching kindness as both a value and a skill to the next generation is one of the ways we can truly be the change. This is exactly what the programming Kindness Matters produces is doing in schools and communities throughout the nation, and I’m so happy to have this opportunity to help contribute to their work.

Why is the work that they do even more important now that you've become a mom?

There are so many amazing things about getting to be a mom… there are also so many new worries that never existed before! One of them is certainly what type of world will Hannah grow up in. Not only do I hope to instill the concept that Kindness Matters into my little girl, but I hope that the world around her can also begin to understand the importance, and giant ripple effects, of simple kindness. I truly believe that the work of Kindness Matters 365 can help this hope become a reality and the next generation will have more tools to make kindness a priority.

What are some ways that you practice kindness in your everyday life?

Part of managing a yoga studio is balancing running a small business with creating a community of yogis. I don’t want my students to feel like they are a transaction. I hope that my kindness comes through with my simple, everyday interactions with my yoga community. Whether you’re a first time student or someone we get to see almost everyday, I try to help our yogis leave our space lighter than they came in. By providing a safe space that allows a true release of negative physical or emotional energy, I hope they can then go pay that forward with how they live out the rest of their day.

@supermodelemme

In honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we spoke to Joslyn Smith of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). Joslyn does federal policy and communications work for NEDA, the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders.

1) Tell us about NEDA's "Come As You Are" campaign.

Our theme this year, Come As You Are, highlights NEDA’s movement towards inclusivity in the greater eating disorders community and our goal of unifying the field of eating disorders. We hope to send a message to individuals at all stages of body acceptance and eating disorders recovery that their stories are valid. We invite everyone, especially those whose stories have not been widely recognized, to have the opportunity to speak out, share their experiences, and connect with others.

We aim to start conversations with a variety of communities that struggle at comparable rates to those traditionally thought of as struggling with eating disorders. We hope to offer them an opportunity to share their stories, see themselves in others’ stories, and recognize that their experiences are valid and welcome, no matter where they are in relationship to food or their bodies.

2) What's a common misconception about eating disorders?

There are numerous misconceptions about eating disorders, many of which start with the stereotype of who struggles: a thin, white, young, upper class female. This year’s theme, Come As You Are, is intentionally countering this stereotype and creating a welcoming space for everyone with an eating disorder or body image concerns. Anyone can have an eating disorder. You can not tell by looking at a person whether they have an eating disorder or have severe their eating disorder might be. Anyone in any size body can and does struggle with any eating disorder. My personal experience illustrates this: I live in a higher weight body, and I’ve struggled with Atypical Anorexia. Likewise, people of any gender identity and expression have eating disorders. In fact, the prevalence of eating disorders in the LGBTQI+ and racial minority populations is higher than in the general population. Countering common misconceptions about eating disorders can be a life and death issue for many people. This is not a once a year effort for NEDA. It’s ongoing.

3) How does mental wellness tie into eating disorders?

As bio-psycho-social disorders, eating disorders are intrinsically connected with mental wellness. Issues impacting mental health can influence the likelihood that one will develop an eating disorder. Working with a mental health provider, in collaboration with medical and nutritional treatment, is of paramount importance in treating most eating disorders. And a continued focus on, and commitment to, mental health will play a key role in working toward and maintaining recovery from an eating disorder. I also think it’s important to note that the mental wellness of families and communities, not just solely the mental health of those with eating disorders, needs to be prioritized to best support prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts for people with eating disorders.

4) What's the first step to take in either helping yourself or others who may be struggling with an eating disorder?

Questioning whether you or someone you know could be struggling with an eating disorder or body image concerns is a good first step. If you are concerned you might be struggling, consider using NEDA’s screening tool (found at myneda.org/screening). If you are worried about a friend or a loved one, it is appropriate to express your concerns in a loving and supportive way. If the person for whom you’re concerned is under 18, a trusted adult needs to know immediately. And remember, it is important to focus on specific signs and symptoms that concern you, rather than the person’s weight or appearance. Whether your concern is for yourself or for a friend or loved one, you can always reach out to our Helpline for help and resources (myneda.org/helpline).